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AFWERX

Latest AFWERX News

About AFWERX (RG)

As the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), AFWERX brings cutting edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employees approximately 325 military, civilian and contractor personnel that execute a $1.4 billion annual budget. Since 2019, the directorate has executed 4,697 contracts worth more than $2.6 billion bringing cutting edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address DAF challenges.
 
The four core arms of AFWERX - AFVentures, Spark, Prime and SpaceWERX - serve to expand the defense industrial base for advanced technologies, empower Airmen and Guardian talent, and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. 
 
AFWERX teams internationally across academia, industry and government to develop technology, expand talent and transition dual-use capabilities. 

Mission: AFWERX accelerates agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming leaders in innovative technology with Airman and Guardian talent. 

 Mantra: Unleashing American Ingenuity 

Vision: Forge an innovation ecosystem that delivers disruptive Air & Space capabilities. 
 

Learn more about AFWERX and our mission by CLICKING HERE.

AFRL/AFWERX Leadership

Links

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AFWERX Divisions

  • AFVentures funds emerging technologies to deliver Air Force and Space Force capabilities and broaden access to disruptive innovation. Transforms the national security innovation base by attracting and scaling small businesses via government and private capital.
  • Spark connects Airman and Guardians to commercial innovators using virtual collaboration, immersive training and networking opportunities to inspire ideas and cultivate a more creative force. By connecting operators closer to acquisition processes, Spark provides both a voice and a conduit to turn powerful ideas into game-changing operational realities.
  • Prime aims to accelerate and "prime" emerging commercial markets and bring military interests that accelerate nascent technologies within the commercial market, benefitting commercial industrial base and military capability. In addition to funding, Prime leverages other unique Department resources, like test infrastructure, certification authorities, interagency relationships, and early operational use cases, bringing the Department of the Air Force's full value proposition to bear by becoming an early adopter to de-risk emerging markets. 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

AFWERX combines startup urgency with the largest pool of motivated talent in the world to uncover opportunities to improve Air and Space Force capabilities, connect and engage the right stakeholders, and facilitate outcomes.

AFWERX Fellowship Program

  • Unique opportunity for Air Force and Space Force members to gain insight into AFWERX capabilities, help shape the Air Force’s future projects and focus areas, and discover innovation enablers and pathways to resources that can benefit you in your future roles in the Force. 

Weekly Webinar Series

  • AFVentures is hosting weekly webinars, every Thursday at noon EST/EDT, to educate, inform and answer any questions you may have about the AFVentures Open and Specific Topic processes. Tune in each week to learn more and ask your questions.

AFWERX Events

  • Colliders, Challenges, SBIR/STTR Roadshows and Tech Warrior events.  Check out the events section on our site for dates and opportunities for companies to showcase their ideas/tech/solutions to government customers.